OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The Overland Park (Kan.) fire department has moved a paramedic and firefighter/EMT into a residential home to improve response times to medical emergencies.
Squad 47, a rapid response SUV, and its personnel is based inside of a residential home, not a fire station, shaving almost 90 seconds from their response time, reported FOX4KC.
“That could mean life or death in certain situations,” said EMS Chief Brad Cusick.
Overland Park began staffing the home in December with six people over three shifts. There is one paramedic and one firefighter EMT for each shift.
To avoid disrupting the neighbors the personnel don’t activate their lights and sirens until reaching a major street.
The additional location helps alleviate some of the call volume for two other fire stations and allows the other stations to focus on calls other than medical responses.